Sarah Phillips Turns A Personal Passion Into Cici’s Cold Brew
Sarah Phillips discusses transforming a decade of home brewing into Cici’s Cold Brew, sharing her commitment to balanced flavour, thoughtful ingredients, dietary inclusivity and building a trusted, approachable coffee brand.
A decade of home brewing gave Sarah Phillips more than a recipe. It gave her the patience to refine her coffee, the confidence to trust her palate and a clear sense of what she wanted to share. As the founder of Cici’s Cold Brew, she has turned that personal passion into a drinks business shaped by thoughtful ingredients, balanced flavour and an ambition to make good coffee more accessible.
What we admire about Sarah’s approach is the care behind its simplicity. Years spent experimenting with beans and brewing times underpin her commitment to keeping coffee at the heart of the product. Her Original, Oat and Caramel range reflects that philosophy, offering different ways to enjoy cold brew without losing sight of the flavour that inspired the business.
There is a personal purpose behind Cici’s, too. Inspired by loved ones living with intolerances, Sarah made dairy-free and gluten-free recipes central to the brand from the outset. That consideration brings warmth and substance to her entrepreneurial vision.
For Taste London, we spoke with Sarah about the journey from kitchen experiments to commercial production, the challenge of earning customers’ trust and the principles she intends to preserve as Cici’s grows. Her answers reveal a founder whose ambition is grounded in patience, consistency and a lasting enthusiasm for her craft.
Cici’s Cold Brew offers a thoughtful approach to everyday coffee, combining carefully developed flavours with simplicity, convenience and dietary consideration.
Cici’s Cold Brew was born from a decade of home brewing. What first sparked your passion for cold brew, and what made you decide to turn that passion into a business?
My passion for cold brew started at home. I spent years experimenting with different beans, brew times and recipes to create a coffee that was smooth, refreshing and genuinely enjoyable. Over time, friends and family kept coming back for it, and that made me realise there was an opportunity to share something I loved with a wider audience. Turning it into a business came from wanting to create a cold brew that people could trust—one built on quality ingredients, honesty and great flavour.
Highlights
- A decade of experimentation — Sarah refined beans, brewing times and recipes at home before developing the business.
- Encouragement from friends and family — Their enthusiasm helped her recognise the opportunity to reach a wider audience.
- Coffee at the centre — Her approach prioritises coffee flavour over unnecessary additions.
- A personal reason for inclusivity — Loved ones living with intolerances inspired the brand’s dairy-free and gluten-free principles.
- Three distinct flavours — Original, Oat and Caramel offer different drinking experiences while retaining a focus on balance.
- Patience and consistency — Lessons from home brewing continue to guide her commercial approach.
- Earning customer trust — Sarah identifies building awareness in a crowded market as a significant challenge.
- An ambition to grow — Her vision is to make premium cold brew accessible to more consumers across the UK and beyond.
After spending so many years brewing coffee at home, what did you feel was missing from the cold-brew market that you wanted Cici’s Cold Brew to address?
I felt there was a gap for a cold brew that was both premium and approachable. Too many ready-to-drink coffees relied on excessive sugar, artificial ingredients or complicated recipes. I wanted to create something cleaner and simpler, where the quality of the coffee could shine through without unnecessary extras.
Your philosophy is about making cold brew simple. What does “simple” mean to you when it comes to coffee, and why is simplicity so important?
For me, simple means using carefully selected ingredients and focusing on flavour rather than hiding behind additives. Coffee doesn’t need to be complicated to be enjoyable. Simplicity allows consumers to know exactly what they’re drinking and appreciate the quality of the product. That’s especially important today, when people are looking for more transparency in the foods and drinks they buy.
You describe Cici’s as coffee you can feel good about, with no unnecessary sugar, and products that are dairy-free and gluten-free. How did these principles shape the brand from the beginning?
The brand was inspired by loved ones living with intolerances, so inclusivity was built into Cici’s from day one. We wanted everyone to be able to enjoy great-tasting cold brew without worrying about unnecessary ingredients or dietary restrictions. Being dairy-free, gluten-free and made with clean ingredients wasn’t an afterthought—it was a core part of creating a coffee people could trust.
Cold brew has become increasingly popular in Britain. What do you think makes cold brew different from traditional hot coffee, both in terms of flavour and the drinking experience?
Cold brew offers a naturally smoother and less acidic flavour profile than many traditional hot coffees. It has a natural sweetness and a refreshing quality that makes it incredibly easy to drink. The experience is also different—it’s convenient, versatile and works just as well on the go as it does as part of a daily routine.
Your range currently includes Original, Oat and Caramel. How did you develop these flavours, and what were you looking for when creating the range?
We wanted to offer something for different tastes while keeping the coffee at the heart of every product. Original showcases the clean, smooth flavour of the cold brew itself. Oat was created for people who enjoy a creamy plant-based option, while Caramel adds a touch of indulgence without overpowering the coffee. The goal was always balance and authenticity rather than overly sweet flavours.
Coffee can be quite personal. What do you think makes someone fall in love with a particular coffee, and how important is flavour balance in your cold brew?
People connect with coffee when it fits naturally into their routine and delivers a flavour they genuinely enjoy. Balance is incredibly important. We want the coffee notes to come through while maintaining smoothness and drinkability. When everything is in harmony, people keep coming back because the experience feels consistently enjoyable.
What have you learned from your years of home brewing that has stayed with you now that Cici’s Cold Brew has become a commercial brand?
Patience and consistency. Great cold brew can’t be rushed. The small details—from bean selection to brewing time—make a huge difference. Those lessons still guide everything we do today, even as we’ve grown from a home-brewed product into a commercial brand.
Starting a drinks brand comes with challenges, from sourcing and production to getting people to discover and trust a new product. What has been the biggest challenge for you so far?
One of the biggest challenges has been building awareness in a crowded coffee market. Consumers have endless choices, so earning trust takes time. We’ve focused on letting the product speak for itself through quality, transparency and staying true to our values rather than chasing short-lived trends.
Your brand talks about everyday energy. What role do you think good coffee can play in modern life, particularly for people who are constantly busy?
Good coffee should support people’s day, not complicate it. For busy consumers, it’s about having a reliable source of energy that’s convenient, enjoyable and fits into their lifestyle. A great cold brew can provide that moment of refreshment and focus, whether you’re commuting, working or simply taking a break.
As the cold-brew category continues to evolve, what changes do you think consumers are looking for in the way they buy and enjoy coffee?
Consumers are increasingly looking for products that combine convenience with quality. They’re paying more attention to ingredients, sustainability and transparency, and they want drinks that fit a variety of dietary needs. I think we’ll continue to see demand for cleaner labels, premium experiences and genuinely functional products.
Finally, what is your vision for Cici’s Cold Brew? Where would you love to see the brand and its mission in the next few years?
My vision is for Cici’s Cold Brew to become a trusted name in premium ready-to-drink coffee. I want more people to discover that coffee can be simple, inclusive and full of flavour. As the brand grows, we’ll continue focusing on clean ingredients, great taste and making high-quality cold brew accessible to more consumers across the UK and beyond.
